“This whole world is spinning crazy, and I can’t quite keep up. It’s the one thing around here that we don’t have quite enough of. So I just want to look a little more like love.”
-Ben Rector
I don’t know why, but the evil and the darkness in this world always surprises me. After every tragedy, after every lost life that is reported in the news, I am continually caught in my shock of the injustice of it all. Which is crazy, right? I mean, I know how messed up this world is. I know this because I have been living here for my whole life. I know because I read it in the Bible, of how God had to send his own (perfect) son to die to atone for all the sin in this world. I know because I have witnessed evil and violence and hate so many times during these short years that I have spent on this earth. I know because everytime I turn on the news, all that is on is bad news.
Stories of hatred. Of violence. Of evil. Of darkness. Of innocence lost. Of innocence stolen. Stories that are bereft of all hope, and filled with trembling bodies and teary eyes.
And, yes, the stories are heartbreaking and terrible, and showcase the evil in this world so so clearly. But I think that the reactions by people, whether in social media or through news broadcasters, are also manifestations of the darkness that has this world ensnared so tightly. Because everytime I open my Facebook app, I see rants and cries of outrage. I see heated calls for change, and people shaking their fingers at the sky. I see these things from Christians. From people who are called to be the light amongst the darkness, not add to it.
Because the last thing that this world needs is more raised voices. The last thing that this world needs is more clenched fists and gnashing of teeth. What this world needs most is gentle words and humble spirits. This world needs capable and tender hands, and feet willing to go to the far corners of the darkness to shine the light and hope of Jesus. This world needs souls filled to the brim with joy, so much so that the joy is spilled out and onto others. It needs hearts captivated by love, hearts freely giving this love away to others in desperate need of it.
This world needs more people who look and act like the love of our Good Father.
So, Christians, here is your call to arms. This world is a battlefield. And our fight is the fight against evil. Light vs. Darkness. Evil vs. Good. It’s time that we got into the fight, friends. It’s time that we stop focusing and calling attention to the darkness, and start fighting against it, by spreading the light. By spreading the love of our Savior. (Because they will know we are Christians by our love.)
It’s time that we all start looking a little bit more like love.
Every day we can choose whether we will let the evil overtake us. We are given a choice each day to choose the joy of our Good Father over all the sorrows of the world. Each day, I challenge you to choose love. To choose light. To choose Jesus.
This world is in a war with itself, friends. Every day, darkness and light are in a bitter battle against each other, trying to gain the affections and attentions of the people. (But here’s a little spoiler for you: light has already won.) Light will always always win. May you hold onto that hope as you go out into the world, into your communities, into your workplaces, into your schools, to be a light in this world. Jesus has already won the war for us, so do not be afraid. Do not stand down. Do not back out. Stand tall, soldier. Fight the good fight. And win. (Everytime.)
